Beverage dispensing apparatus



July 27, 1943. R. "r. co'RNELlUsv BEVERQGE DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 11, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Richard T. Corn e'li us m \llll m h. m w ms d 0: r 5 S a F... rvw v y 1943- R. 'r. CORNELIUS Y BEVERAGE DISPENSING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Shet 2 "Filed Oct. 11, 1940 5W Richard Cornelius".

July 27, 1943.

'r. CORNELIUS BEVERAQE DISPENSING APPARATU Filed Oct. 11, 1940 5 nsheelis sheet 5 Richard "[I Cornelius BEVERAGE DI SPEI IS ING APPARATUS Filed .001;- 11, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Ri'hard T. Cornelius Patented July 27, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT I OFFICE Claims.

My invention relates to beverage dispensing apparatu and has for an object to provide an apparatus by means of which beverages such as beer and the like may be maintained in palatable condition prior to being dispensed.

Another object of the invention resides in .pro-

viding a dispensing apparatus in which the temperature of the beer drawn will be proper regardless of the lapse of time between uses ofthe apparatus.

Another object of the invention resides in providing an apparatus in which the container for the beer is cooled, as well as the beer leaving the same.

A feature of the invention resides in providing an apparatus utilizing a dispensing column having a conduit leading from the beverage container and in providing means for maintaining said conduit cool.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a cabinet and in disposing within said cabinet a cooling unit dividing the same into. one or more compartments for the reception of containers for the beverage. An object of the invention resides in constructing the cooling unit with a storage tank for cooling the liquid and a heat exchange tank'con-,

nected therewith.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing a heat exchange conduit within the heat exchange tank adapted to be connected to a beverage container and to a faucet.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a single impeller for circulating the cooling liquid within said heat exchange tank and for causing transfer of cooling liquid from the storage tank to the heat exchange tank.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a fan for causing circulation of the air within the cabinet past the cooling unit to cool impeller is caused to both circulate cooling liquidwithin the heat exchange tank and to cause transfer'oi' cooling liquid through said the storage tank.

Another object of the invention resides in providing thermostatic valve control meansresponsive to the temperature in the heat exchange tank conduit and into for controlling the flow of cooling'liquid through said conduit.

Other objects of the invention reside in the novel combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter illustrated and/or described.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan sectional view of a beverage dispensing apparatus illustrating anembodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevational sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.; 7 Fig. 3 is a longitudinal elevational sectional view taken on line 3-3 ofFig. '1.-

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of the cooling I unit of the invention removed from the cabinet and taken on line 44 of Fig. 1, said view being drawn to a greater scale. 1

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4.viewed from the opposite side of the cooling unit and showing a portion of the cooling unit in elevation.

Fig. 6 is an elevational longitudinal sectional view of the dispensing device of the invention drawn to a greater scale.

Fig. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of a corner of the cooling unit B.

My invention .comprises a cabinet illustrated in it entirety by the reference character A, which cabinethas mounted in it a cooling unit B, situated intermediate the ends of the-cabinet and forming storage compartments II and I! on opposite sides thereof in which kegs or containers containing the beverage to be dispensed may be placed. Connected to the cooling unit B is a dispensing device C, which projects upwardly from the upper surface of the cabinet A, which forms a counter indicated by the reference numeral I3. These various parts will now be described in detail. I v

The cabinet A consists of a bottom I4, a rear wall IS, a front wall It and end walls I! and I8. These various walls are connected together by means of a top l9 which forms the counter Hi. The various walls of the cabinet may be constructed in any suitable manner, as for example by means of frame members 2| which form a framework for supporting a tubular shell 22 and an inner liner 23 spacedtherefrom. Between this shell and liner is provided insulation 24,

whereby the transfer of heat from the exterior openings and 25,.which give access to comand I2. These openings are partments adapted to be closed by means of doors 21 and 28, which are hingedly connected by means of hinges 28 to the wall I! and which may be latched by means of suitable latches 5|. The particular construction of the cabinet proper, forming no particular feature of the invention, has not been shown in detail in the drawings and it will be readily comprehended that any customary construction may be used for the purpose.

Within the two compartments II and I2 are mounted racks 52 and 88 which rest upon the bottom l4 and which are adapted to support the beverage containers or barrels from which the beverage is to be dispensed. In theFigs. 1 and 3 two-barrels 54 and 85 for beer or any other suitable beverage is shown. The various connections for the beer lines leading from these barrels have not been illustrated in Fig. 1, and have only been shown in connection with the barrel 84 in'Fig. 3. These connections are of standard form and consist of a tap rod 85 adapted to be forced into the barrel and held attached thereto by means of a clamp 81. A hose 88 is connected to the discharge and of the tap rod and the beer entering the same is controlled by means ofa suitable valve 88. This hose is connected to the cooling unit B in a manner to be presently described in detail.

The dispensing device C consists of three columns 4|, 42 and 43, which are used for dis pensing the beer in the two barrels 84 and 85 and also for the purpose of dispensing water. The column 4| has been illustrated in detail in Fig. 6 and will now be specifically described. In the top H of the cabinet A are provided two spaced longitudinally extending frame members 44 and 45 which provide a space 45 therebetween. Extending through this space is a thick walled .tube 41 which has secured to the same at its upper end a thin walled tube 48. Attached to the upper end of the tube 48 isa flow restrictor 5| which is formed with a housing 49 having a conical tubular portion 58. The lower end of this tubular portion is directly secured to the tube 48. The housing 49 has a conical bore 52 within the conical tubular portion 50 thereof in which is inserted a conical core 53. This core forms with the wall of the bore 52 a restricted passageway 54 through which the beer or other beverage to be dispensed passes. The core 53 has attached to it a stem 55 which has a threaded portion 55 screwed into threads 51 in a cap 58 secured to housing 49. -A stufllng box 58 forms a fluid-tight connection between the stem 55 and housing 49 and prevents leakage of the beer outwardly of the device. The housing 49 has connected to it a neck 8| which communicates with a faucet 52 having an operating handle 58, by means of which the beer may be drawn from the barrel.

Encircling the thin walled tube 48 and the portion 58 of the housing 49 having the conical bore 52 therein is a jacket 54. This jacket is secured at its lower end'to the upper end of the thick walled tube 41 and at its upper end to the housing '49, and forms in conjunction with the tube 48 an annular passageway therebetween. A passageway 55 in the housing 48 partly surrounds the conical tubular portion 58 of said housing and communicates with the passageway 55 formed between the jacket 54, the tube 48, and

the lower part of the portion 55 of the housing 48. .All of theese various parts may be secured together by soldering, brazing or in any other suitable manner, to form a fluid-tight passageway both around the tube 45 and through the same.

Encircling the upper end of the jacket 54 is a collar 58 which is seated against the under sideof the portion of the housing 45, forming the neck 8| and the passageway 55. This collar is recessed to receive a tubular shell 89 encircling the Jacket 54. The shell 88, at its lower end, is

. seated in another collar 1| which rests upon the counter ll of top l9. A nut 12 threaded upon the lower end of the thick walled tube 41 and bearing against a washer 15 disposed upon the under side of the top l8 serves to draw the entire column downward and retain the tubular shell 58 seated in the collars 58 and 1|. In the space between the shell 55 and the jacket 54 is placed insulation designated by the reference numeral 14. A cap 15, secured upon the upper portion of the housing 48 crowns the same.

The cooling unit B consists of a storage tank 11 for cooling liquid and another tank 18 for heat exchange. These two tanks are disposed adjacent one another as shown in Figs. 1 and 4 and divide the interior of the cabinet A so as to form the two compartments II and I2. The tank 18 is of lesser width, length and height than the tank 11, as shown in Fig. 1. In the uppermost portion of the tank 11, adjacent the tank 18, is formed a niche indicated by the reference numeral 19.

The tank 11 is constructed with a bottom 8|, 9. rear wall 82, a front wall 83 and side walls 84 connected therewith, being open at the top. The two side walls 84 are notched to form the niche 19. In this niche is disposed a removable partition 85 which has attached to it a shelf 80. This shelf is bent outwardly from the partition and is constructed with a lip |5| at its forward edge. The said lip is adapted to extend over the uppermost edge of the wall 83 of tank 11 at its upper edge. The partition 85 is held in place at its upper end by means of abutments |52 secured to the side walls 84 of tank 11. This construction is best shown in Fig. 5.

The tank 18 is constructed with a rear wall 86 positioned adjacent to the wall 88, but spaced therefrom. The said tank is further formed with a front wall 81, side wall 88 and a bottom 88 connected to the various lateral walls thereof.

The two tanks 11 and 18 are in communication with one another .at their lower ends by means of a nipple 9| which extends jointly through both of the walls 83 and 85 of said tanks. A gasket 92 is situated between the two walls. Nuts 98 and 94 screw upon the'nipple 9| and form a fluid-tight connection between the two walls, whereby cooling liquid may circulate from the tank 11 and into the tank 18. A strainer 95 of any desired form is attached to the end .of the nipple 8| extending into the tank 11 and serves to prevent solid matter from entering into the tank 18. 1

The upper portions of the two tanks 11 and 18 are brought into communication by means of an elbow 98 which has a neck 91 extending through the two walls 85 and 85 of said tanks. A gasket 98, similar to the gasket 82 is disposed between the walls 88 and 85 and circles the neck 81. The elbow 95 is disposed within the tank 18 and is arranged so that the free end 88 thereof faces upwardly. Within the tank 11 is disposed another elbow IOI similar to the elbow 88 which has one end thereof concentrically arranged with reference to the neck 81 and which communicates with the elbow 88. The two elbows are constructed wLth flanges I82, which are bolted together by means of bolts I03. 'In this manner, a fluid-tight connection is formed between the two tanks 11 and 18, which permits of the flow of cooling liquid from one tank to the other through the two elbows 96 and "ii. The elbow MI is arranged with its free end I04 extending upwardly.

Within the tank 18 are located three heat exchange conduits or coils I05, I08 and I 01. The

' coils I and I88 are both helical and disposed adjacent one another. The coil I08 is provided Y with an inlet tube m which is connected to a fitting I08 by means of which the hose 38 of the tap rod 38 may be connected to the said coil.

The other end III of the said coil extends upwardly and is connected to the tube 41 of the column 4|", whereby beer may be led from the barrel 34 through the coil I08 and dispensed from the faucet 52. The coil I05 is similarly connected to a fitting II2 by means of which the barrel 35 may be connected to the said coil I 05 and with the tube 41 of the column 43. In this manner, beer may be dispensed from either of the columns 43 or H connected to the respective barrels. The heat exchange c'oil I01 is connected at one end to a fitting II3 which is adapted to be connected to a water supply pipe and at its other end is connected to the tube 45 of the column 52. By means of this connection cold water may be dispensed from the column 42.

For the purpose of cooling the heat exchange coils I05, I 08 and I01, the tank 11 is filled up to level of the uppermost portion of the wall 83 with ice and water. The cooling liquid passes through the strainer 85 and nipple 8I and into the tank 18 where the same circulates throughout the tank 11, cooling the respective heat exchange coils.

In order to promote circulation of cooling liquid in the tank 11, an impeller I I4 is employed which is connected to a shaft II5 rotatably mounted in a housing II8 formed on the end bell of a motor H8. The shaft H5 is directly connected to the armature shaft II8 of the said motor which is itself journaled in bearings HI and I22. The shaft 5 is further Journaled in a bearing I23 formed in the lower portion of the housing I I8.

The shaft H5 is located so that the axis of the same is above one edge of the free end 88 of the elbow 86, and so that a portion of the impeller II 4 overlies the said edge'of the elbow, the remainder of the impeller being disposed outward-, ly -thereof. When the motor shaft H5 is opattracted by the magnet when the magnet is energized and which is drawn up into the magnet.

The core I28 has connected to it a valve stem I3I which carries a valve head I32 adapted to enga a valve seat I38 formed, at the upper portion I04 of elbow IN. A guard I84 encircles the valve stem I3I and extends up to the shelf 80. This guard is constructed with a number of openings I35 in the same which bring the passageway through the valve and the upper end I04 of elbow IOI into communication with the tank 11. By means of this construction ice is prevented from coming in contact with the valve and operating mechanism connected therewith.

It will be readily comprehended that, when the valve head I32 is raised, water may circulate through the elbows 88 and I3I from tank 18 to tank 11 and that, when'the said valve is closed, the impeller II4 merely churns the cooling liquid within the tank 18.

The elbow IN, the guard I34 and the housing I24 are all constructed integral. This structure is partLv supported through the flanges I02 of the elbows 88 and I M and the bolts I03 which project therethrough. For further supporting the said structure, the guard I34 is provided with two ears I54 which extend outwardly therefrom and overlie the wall 83 of tank 11. Extending through these cars are screws I55 which screw into threaded bushings I55 brazed to the wall 88 of tank 18. Gaskets I51 are disposed between these walls and form a fluid-tight connection between the two tanks. The motor I I8 is attached to the housing I24 and supported thereby.

The upper portion of the housing I24 is constructed with an opening I38 opposite the electromagnet I 28 which is adapted to be covered by a closure I31 attached to said housing by means of screws I38. The opening I38 gives access to thesaid thermostat further includes aswitch, not

shown, which is connected in the circuit operating the electromagnet I28. When the temperature in the tank 18 drops, thermostat I38 operates in a manner to close the circuit through the electromagnet I25 which raises the valve I32. The motor II8 runs continuously and as soon as the said valve is open the impeller II4 forces the erated the cooling liquid in the tank 18 is forced of the tank 18 through which the cooling liquid rises, cooling the coils I05, I08 and I01 in its upward travel. At the same time re-circulation of the liquid in the tank 11 is brought about by the portion of the impeller I'I4 situated exteriorly of the free end 88 of elbow 88.

Situated in the niche 18 is a housing I24 which is supported as will be hereinafter described. The housing I24 has a chamber I25 in it in which is situated an electromagnet I28. This electromagnet is provided with a coil I21 encircling a tube I28 at the center-of the same. Slidable in the tube I28 is a core I28 which is adapted to be cooling liquid through the elbows 88 and IM and procures circulation of cooling liquid from one tank to the other.

Overlying the motor II8, the housing I24 and the thermostat I38 is a hood I 42. This hood'ls constructed with a front wall I43, side walls I44, and atop I45 connectedthereto. The said hood is attached to the tank 11, the walls I 44 of said hood being substantially co-planar with the walls 84 of the tank 11. Walls I44 and I43 of the said hood are spaced from the walls 88 and 81 of the tank 18, whereby a passageway I45 is formed therebetween. Due to the construction of the two tanks 11 and 18, a space I48 is provided which extends completely around the tank 18 and which communicates with the passageway I 45. This space, as will become evident from Fig. 3, communicates with the two compartments I I and I2 in the cabinet A. The uppermost end of the shaft II5 extends above the motor H8 and has attached to it a fan I48. This fan is disposed in an opening III in the cover Ill and causes circulation of air in an upward direction. When the motor III is put in operation air is drawn from the uppermost portion oithe two compartportions of the compartments II and- I2. Thus the air within the entire cabinet is circulated and cooled so as to prevent appreciable heat loss from the barrels within the cabinet,

The passageway 33 in the housing 49 or each of .the columns I, 32 and 43 has connected to it a tube I". Similarly the lowermost portions of the Jackets 04 have connected to them tubes I3I.

- The tubes III have open ends and are adapted to discharge into the uppermost portion of the tank 13. The ends of the tubes III are connected to a. manifold I82 which in turn is directly connected to the discharge end of a water circulating pump "3. Water circulating pump I63 is formed partly by the lower end of the housing Ill and a revoluble head I connected to the shaft I I5 and revolubletherewith. Said pump is of thecentrifugal type .and has an inlet passageway I85 connected to an intake pipe I68 extending downwardly into the cooling liquid within the tank 13. This pipe has connected to the lower end thereof a strainer I61 by means of which extraneous matter is prevented from entering the pump. When the motor I I8 operates, water is circulated by the pump I63 and forced through the passageways 6i, and cools the tube 43 and the flow restrictor 5|.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The motor H8 has'a low power consumption and is caused to operate continuously during operation of the dispensing apparatus. This motor causes circulation of the air within the cabinet A by operating fan I" which circulates the air drawing the same from the upper portion of both of the compartments I I and I2 directing the same downwardly along the sides of the tank 18 and discharging the same at the bottom of the compartments II and I2 in a direction towards the beverage containers or barrels 35 or 34. In this manner the air in-the interior of the cabinet is circulated and the beverage containers themselves cooled. During operation of the motor II! the impeller III and the pump I33 are in operation. The impeller I I4 causes circulation or the cooling liquid within the tank I8, thereby procuring cooling of the coils I05, I06 and I1. If the valve head I32 is open cooling liquid flows through the elbows 96 and IIII and into the tank 11. This causes return flow of cooling liquid through the nipple BI and into the bottom of the heat exchange tank 13. When the valve head I32 is closed, the impeller merely churns the cooling liquid above the elbow 96 and at the sametime circulates the cooling liquid within the tank II. If the temperature in the tank 18 rises, the thermally responsive element Ill of thermostat I39 functions to operate the thermostat which completes a circuit through the coil I21 of the electromagnet I26. This raises the core I29 and the valve head I32 connected to it through valve stem I and allows the cooling liquid to travel through the two elbows 98 and IOI and into the upper portion of the tank 11 through the openings I35 in guard I34. Circulation of cooling liquid between the two tanks is now established and the temperature in the tank 18 readily reduced the desired amount. During operation of the motor III cooling liquid is continuously cir-. culated by the pump I33 throughout the passageways about the tubes 43 of the various columns ll, 42 and 43, It will thus be readilycomprehended that, as beer or other beverage is drawn from the faucet 02, the beer is suitably cooled and no waste of beer occurs before beer of proper temperatureis drawn.

The advantages of my invention are manifest. The device is particularly adapted for use with 'ice and will maintain the heat exchange conduits at the proper temperature. The apparatus is extremely efllcient in operation and only requires a single small motor which actuates all of the move ing parts or the apparatus. Cool beverage can at all times be drawn from the apparatus without waste of beverage. With my invention the differences in temperatures between the various parts of the apparatus is a minimum and the temperature readily and easily held at the desired degree. My improved apparatus is extremely simple in construction and will not readily get out of order. I

Changes in the specific form of my invention, as herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of my invention. V

Having described my invention, what'I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, acabinet for the reception of a beverage container, a heat exchange conduit within said cabinet adapted to be connected to the beverage container and to a faucet, a tank for cooling liquid, said heat exchange conduit being disposed within said tank, a vertically extending shaft projecting downwardly into said tank, an impeller on said shaft, said shaft projecting above the tank, a fan attached to said shaft at a locality above the tank, said impeller circulating the cooling liquid within the tank and said fan circulating the air above the tank, from the cooling liquid and to the beverage container and a motor operating said shaft.

2. In combination, a cabinet for the reception of a beverage container, a tank within said cabinet for a cooling liquid, a heat exchange conduit within said tank adapted to be connected to said beverage container, a conduit leading from said heat exchange conduit outwardly of said cabinet, a faucet connected-to said second named conduit, a jacketencircling said second named conduit and forming a passageway encircling said second named conduit, a shaft "extending partly within said tank and disposed partly outwardly of said tank, an impeller on the shaft within said tank for circulating the coolingliquid therein, a pump on said shaft connected to said passageway for circulating cooling liquid about said second named conduit, a fan on the portion of the shaft situated exteriorly of the tank for circulating the air within the cabinet, from the cooling liquid and to the beverage container and a motor for operating said shaft.

3. In combination, a cabinet for the reception of a beverage container, 8. storage tank within said cabinet for cooling liquid, a heat exchange tank within said cabinet connected to said storage tank, a heat exchange conduit within said heat exchange tank adapted to be connected to the beverage container and to a faucet, and a fan disposed above said heat exchange tank and adapted to direct air from the top of the cabinet downwardly along said heat exchange tank and toward said beverage container.

4. In combination, a cabinet 101' the reception of a beverage container, a storage tank within said cabinet for cooling liquid, a heat exchange tank within said cabinet connected to said storage tank, a heat exchange conduit within said heat exche tank adapted to be connected to the beverage container and to a faucet, an impeller within said heat exchange tank adapted to cause circulation of cooling vliquid within said heat exchange tank and transfer of cooling liquid from said storage tank and to said heat exchange tank, thermwtatically operated valve means controlled by the temperature in th heat exchange tank for controlling the flow of cooling liquid from the storage tank to the heat exchange tank, a an disposed above said heat exchange tank and serving to draw air from the upper portion of the cabinet and direct the same downwardly along said heat exchang tank and toward said beverage container, and a motor for operating both said impeller and (an.

5. In combination, a cabinet, a cooling unit within said cabinet arranged within the same to form a compartment therein for the reception of a beverage container, said cooling unit including a. tank for cooling liquid, said tank falling short of the uppermost portion of the cabinet to provide a space thereabove, a fan disposed within said space and adapted to draw air from the upper portion of said compartment and direct the same downwardly along said tank and into the compartment at the lowermost portion thereof for cooling the beverage container within the compartment, and a hood encircling said fan and 

